Original Paper

Impact of Treatment of Dyslipidemia on Renal Function, Fat Deposits and Scarring in Patients with Persistent Nephrotic Syndrome
Osama Ashry Gheith^a, Mohamed Abel-Kader Sobh^a, Kefaia El-Sayed Mohamed^b, Mahmoud Abdo El-Baz^c, Fatma El-Husseini^c, Sana Sayed Gazarin^d, Hassan Abd-El-Hady Ahmed^d, Mahmoud Wageh Rasem^d, Galal Mohamed Amer^d

Departments of
^aNephrology,
^bClinical Pathology and
^cPathology, Urology and Nephrology Center, University of Mansoura, and
^dDepartment of Internal Medicine, El-Menofia University, Mansoura, Egypt

Address of Corresponding Author

Nephron 2002;91:612-619 (DOI: 10.1159/000065021)

  Key Words

• Nephrotic syndrome
• Dyslipidemia
• Statin
• Renal scarring

  Abstract

In this study 43 patients with idiopathic nephrotic syndrome were randomly distributed into 2 age- and sex-matched groups. The first group was given fluvastatin while the second was used as control. The cases in the 2 groups were evaluated clinically, biochemically (creatinine clearance, albumin, 24-hour proteinuria, and lipogram), neurologically, and histopathologically (examination of renal biopsies obtained basally and after 1 year of treatment with fluvastatin). In the fluvastatin-treated group but not in the control group, we observed a significant reduction in cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein, and triglyceride. Clinical and laboratory assessment showed satisfactory tolerance of the drug by the patients. Proteinuria, serum albumin and creatinine clearance values were significantly better in the statin-treated patients. There was no difference in glomerular sclerosis between the 2 groups while interstitial fibrosis and renal fat deposits were less in the statin-treated group. The reduction in renal fat deposits in the statin-treated group was highly significant, while that of interstitial fibrosis was not. We conclude that: (1) statin can be safely and effectively used in the treatment of dyslipidemia in patients with persistent idiopathic nephrotic syndrome; (2) control of dyslipidemia in nephrotic patients is associated with better control of proteinuria and creatinine clearance; (3) statin treatment may cause regression of renal fat deposits in patients with nephrotic syndrome, and (4) longer term studies are still required to study further possible beneficial effects on renal histology and disease progression.

Copyright © 2002 S. Karger AG, Basel

  Author Contacts

Mohamed Abel-Kader Sobh, MD
Department of Nephrology, Urology and Nephrology Center
University of Mansoura
Mansoura (Egypt)
Tel. +20 50 36 22 22, Fax +20 50 36 37 17, E-Mail unc@mum.mans.eun.eg

  Article Information

Accepted: August 23, 2001
Number of Print Pages : 8
Number of Figures : 1, Number of Tables : 8, Number of References : 19